Have your say - NES-CF slash standards

FICA has its say on the new NES-CF slash standards, are you interested in having your say?

You might be aware that the Government is looking to improve slash management standards in the NES-CF to clarify rules around low-risk slash.

MPI have been engaging with a range of forestry and council people to understand potential options.

MPI have heard a number of things about the effect of the current (‘new’) slash standard on harvesting, with some reference to the impact on harvesting contractors.

FICA has been asked if we have had any thoughts from the perspective of our members. They are particularly interested in:

• Contractors may be bearing the costs of slash retrieval in some cases

• Increased costs for harvest may have meant more forests unharvested (particularly woodlots), with obvious flow-on effects

• Any safety issues with retrieval

FICA has provided some anecdotal feedback from members and forest owners.

FICA did talk to the Forest Growers Research (FGR) Harvesting Group about assisting and trying to quantify cost and loss in productivity, but they are not interested and cannot help.

If you can share some quantitative data on the effects of pulling slash on productivity, cost and health and safety, it would be appreciated. It is important we get data from variety of harvesting systems, topography, geography and tree crop characteristics.

If there was enough interest we could put a working group together. Pleasecontact Rowan if  you are willing to assist with this.